riverviewlogs | [OPEN] Halloween Haunt at The Apothecary

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[OPEN] Halloween Haunt at The Apothecary

who: Magnus Bane (

appetitive) & anyone who'd like to come!
what: Halloween & Samhain party featuring transformative potions
when: October 31st at dusk through November 2nd at dawn
where: The Apothecary (formerly known as The Quarantine Bar)
warnings: please tag threads individually as needed!

The Apothecary's Halloween Haunt

For the entirety of October, The Apothecary bar has been and will continue to be decorated in deep shades of purple and orange, not to mention a whole lot of black and an array of convincingly grim yet decidedly elegant decorations. The real party doesn't start until the sun sets on Halloween night, stretching past the witching hours and through the following day in celebration of the lesser-known Samhain. From dusk of October 31st to dawn on November 2nd, the bar is alive with magic largely thanks to the menu of six alcoholic potions whose effects are posted on menus around the bar. These menus will be placed in clear sight with moving images of each drink so that guests are fully aware of their magical properties—if someone hands you a mystery drink, you're encouraged (but not obliged) to find out what it'll do to you before partaking. Each potion lasts an average of three hours, or until an antidote is drunk. And though multiple potions can be "stacked" by drinking them without an antidote in-between, party-goers will be cautioned that some potions may mix to create strange results. Luckily, the host will be attending from dusk to dawn in order to sort out any dangerous effects.

While the drink menu is the main event, there will be plenty of other ways to find some ghoulish entertainment. Tables are laden with a variety of both sweet and savory appetizers which all paying customers are welcome to enjoy. Because of the length of the party, the kitchen will be serving a limited menu of main-course items during typical mealtimes throughout the days. And because no party would be complete without music, there will be a "live" skeleton band performing jazz, rock, and the occasional but obligatory Halloween song upon request—please use this power wisely and save your fellow party-goers from two hours of continuous Witchy Woman.

Given that this is a Halloween party, costumes are highly recommended and will be rewarded with a free drink upon arrival. If you come without a costume, bartenders will recommend trying the Monster Mash or Werewolves of London potions in order to get you more into the spirit of Halloween. Though the bar will be dotted with large couches, plush armchairs, and piles of floor pillows, dozing guests will be encouraged to go home and sleep between festivities. If you're unable to handle over thirty-six hours of continuous partying, go enjoy a nap and then return to the bar for another round later on!

◇MONSTER MASH FLAVOR flat, warm; spiced rum, cranberry juice, grenadine EFFECTS Forget your costume at home? Don't worry, because drinking this potion while result in a full-body change into a classic Halloween creature, with a twist: it's either the sexy version, or the scary one. Though the drinker will be partially recognizable beneath it, the change can be a costume of its own. Some common transformations include but are not limited to: vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, demons, and Frankenstein's monster	◇THRILLER FLAVOR flat, chilled; whiskey, bitters, sugar, orange zest EFFECTS If you're craving a change, this is the drink for you. The potion will bring about a random shift in the color of the drinker's hair, eyes, or both. Differences can range anywhere from natural shades to neon hues, as well as a variety of patterns and multi-colored or mismatched options. And don't worry, any facial hair you may have won't be left out of the fun!
◇TIME WARP FLAVOR flat, chilled; light rum, creme de menthe, lemon juice EFFECTS For those party-goers looking for a whole new perspective on Halloween, this drink offers two unique experiences. When sharing with another guest, knock the glasses together and drink simultaneously for a body swap. Feeling really adventerous? Get multiple people to join in on the fun! If you're drinking alone, you'll find that your biological sex will change from male to female, or vice versa.	◇WEREWOLVES OF LONDON FLAVOR sparkling, chilled; vodka, chambord, sparkling limeade EFFECTS Get ready to howl at the moon, or maybe fly off towards it, after trying this drink. Shortly after imbibing, partakers will manifest any number of animal traits, though all from the same animal. Perhaps it's as simple as a pair of bird's wings, or a full set of cat ears, tail, and eyes. The potion will pick up on any animal-like traits you may have, so snakes and rats beware.
◇I PUT A SPELL ON YOU FLAVOR flat, chilled; gin, vermouth, creme de cassis EFFECTS This potion is for anyone who's ever wanted to live out their dreams of being a teenaged wizard at boarding school. Though it may take a few tries to get perfect certain tricks, drinkers will be able to perform low-level spells with their hands such as: levitation, creating colored sparks, turning items invisible, elemental manipulation, summoning or conjouring items, short-distance teleporation, and a number of other simple tricks. (Any violent abuse of these abilities will result in immediate and forceful administration of an antidote and expulsion from the bar.)	◇HIGHWAY TO HELL FLAVOR flat, warm; absinthe, sugar, heatless fire EFFECTS Though this drink doesn't contain a potion, does it really need to when you're drinking something that's still on fire? This shot of absinthe, though adorned with a multicolored and edible flame, will warm you through and have you breathing the same cool fire for as long as it takes the sugar cube to dissolve on your tongue.

◇DON'T FEAR THE REAPER

FLAVOR
sparkling, chilled; blackberry syrup, cola
EFFECTS
These shots are free of alcohol and provide an antidote to every other drink on the menu. One splash of this delightfully chilled and refreshing drink will reserve all transformative effects as well as void all magical abilities. And though it is non-alcoholic, it does not provide any sobering qualities.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Shigeru gives him a warm smile back as he watches Dodger out of the corner of his eye. His rabbit ears will twitch and turn with the music as it gets louder or lower depending on the song. But Shigeru will otherwise sit with Dodger in silence for awhile. ]

Did you ever celebrate Halloween when you were little?

[ He never really did ask that before, did he? ]

I think...I would have if my world had such a thing. I could have gone outside and interacted with people with a costume and no one would think me strange for the day. That would've been nice when I think about it.

[The frown persists on his face, and he lets out a quiet sigh. It almost hurts hearing such an innocent question about his childhood... but he figures Shigeru doesn't deserve anything but honesty.]

I never got the chance. [He shifts a bit, properly molding himself against Shigeru's side.] I didn't understand trick-or-treating when I was little, I always got angry that kids my age were out begging for candy when people hit me or just ignored me when I asked for food. And before that, I was just scared of all the lights and costumes. My mom and I would just... find a quiet spot to wait it out. Sometimes I'd find candy in the garbage afterward, and that was... awesome. [He makes a hesitant noise before continuing.] After I met Benny... well, he figured Halloween was for babies. We worked on Halloween.

[ Oh. He frowns as he gives Dodger's hand a small squeeze. ]

I'm sorry. I didn't know...that's how it was for you.

[ He should have known better than to ask, really, but it was an innocent question that he hardly gave a single thought about. But a young and innocent person like Dodger at the time...didn't deserve that at all. ]

It doesn't matter. You don't need to feel sorry.

[Still, despite his words and the fact that he's now staring at the grain of the table with his ears and tail drooped, the comfort helps. He does feel better for sharing it.]

I hate this place, but hell.. it's been a long time since I celebrated holidays. After I lost Janet... there just wasn't a point anymore, y'know? [His tone shifts again, becoming even more somber and mournful.] She always... made her own costumes for Halloween. I bet she makes them for my daughter, too. I wish I... I wish I had a chance of seeing them trick-or-treating, that'd be... nice.

[He's silent for a few moments before giving Shigeru a crooked smile.]

You don't give a shit about any of this, right? Who cares about them, I've got you.

[ Shigeru will shake his head and then lightly touch Dodger's arm. ]

I do care. They're...important to you and if talking about them makes you feel better, then I don't mind.

[ He has a soft smile on his features before he looks away. ]

I want to...make you happy, just like they did. So I'll do whatever I can to do so, and if that means listening then I'll definitely do that. [ But there comes a pause before he types one more thing. ]

I never knew you had a daughter.

[For a moment, that rough facade fades. Under it Dodger is almost shocked by how much Shigeru cares about him, and he looks almost innocently bemused. There's a trace of a smile on his face as he nods slowly, reaching under his shirt collar and pulling out one of his necklaces. The heart-shaped locket, which he pops open to reveal a picture of a young girl, no more than five, with ruddy brown hair and pale blue eyes behind thick round glasses.]

Her name is Maddie. I never met her, but I uh... this locket came through the portal. It didn't take a genius to figure out who she was.

[It is rather obvious, especially after seeing Janet. Maddie has Dodger's nose, Janet's eyes, and her hair is the same tone as her father's. She's frowning at the camera, as if she'd rather avoid being looked at, and it gives her a bit of the somber appearance that Dodger is prone to.]

[ Shigeru will lean in to get a good look, his smile beaming as he looks to Dodger again. ]

She's very pretty, Dodger. You must be really proud. [ Well if he carries that locket around with him he had to be. He smiles just a little bit more before giving Dodger a curious glance. ]

Do...you think she has powers like you do?

I try not to think about it.

[He closes the locket and slips it back under his shirt, safely hidden away but close to his heart.]

If she started using fire powers... she'd scared the hell out of her mom. And her life would be a living nightmare. But it'd be... nice... thinking some day I might meet her and... help her figure things out.

[As if he has a chance of helping anyone.]

[ Shigeru will reach up...tentatively and place his hand over where the locket rests against Dodger's chest. ]

I hope that...one day you'll be able to meet her too.

[ He at least deserves that. No parent should through life without meeting their own child. ]

You think I'm a fuck-up, don't you. I mean, not for everything else, just... being twenty-five with a five-year-old.

[He takes a deep breath, and lets it out in a shaky laugh.]

It's stupid to even worry about that, right? I mean, I fucking torture people in my flat for kicks, why worry about how young I was when I got a broad pregnant, it was bound to happen...

[He's rambling... he feels like an idiot.]

[ Dodger please?! Shigeru will just lightly touch his cheek, turning Dodger's head a little so that he's actually looking at Shigeru, before shaking his head. ]

Stop. I don't think that all. Knowing what you've been through...what your life was like, I would never think that of you.

[ He knows that a lot of people would say that Dodger was one, that he had messed up his life and Janet's by being selfish and getting her pregnant when they could hardly afford rent and food for themselves. Or that he was crazy for torturing people and honestly...Shigeru has had thoughts on the matter before. But it never entailed Dodger being a fuck up. It's more like...he was extremely sad for the other man in all honesty. ]

[Dodger is silent as he reads the phone, and his tail twitches with the beginning of a wag. And then he cups Shigeru's face in his hands, and presses a warm kiss to his lips.]

Thanks. You're... I mean, I wouldn't figure anyone else would think like that.

[In little moments like this, Dodger could believe he loves Shigeru. Above all else he loves the attention from someone who doesn't think anything bad about him.]

[ Ah. He still loves it when Dodger kisses him, and his ears and tail will perk up a little with the action. He's smiling warmly back at Dodger as he nods in acknowledgment. ]

I guess I just have...a different way of thinking then everyone else.

[ But he honestly doesn't mind it at all. And he'll lean in to give Dodger another kiss in reciprocation. ]

[Dodger's tail is wagging very obviously now, and he lets out a wry little laugh as he ruffles Shigeru's hair, making sure to run his fingers over the base of those bunny ears in the process.]

Relax, alright? We're done being serious for now. I just wanna enjoy the night.

[ Shigeru will make a noise when Dodger runs his hands along the base of his ears. Ah! It felt good and he blushes as he nods. ]

Then we should do something fun.

[ He smiles happily, his ears twitching excitedly as he looks around. ]

If you don't want to dance maybe there's something else we could do?

What, you don't wanna just sit around drinking and necking?

[Dodger leans over and presses a few kisses to the spot where Shigeru's neck meets his jaw, before leaning his chin on the other man's shoulder.]

You're pretty eager, huh - what do you want to be doing?

[ He'll just shake his head and look embarrassed as he averts his gaze from the other. His hand might come up to softly tug on one of his ears in a awkward, nervous, gesture. ]

No! That's not it! I...I don't mind doing that.

[ Of course he wouldn't mind doing whatever Dodger wanted to do either. Though he doesn't admit but last time was...well it was definitely better feeling then just simply kissing. But of course he's not going to mention it, except his face goes beat red when he even thinks about it. ]

I didn't know if that's what...you wanted.

[Dodger snickers quietly, and bumps his forehead against Shigeru's, before pulling him onto his lap.]

If it's what you wanna do, I wanna hear you say it. That you wanna sit here kissing me all night.

[Because of course Shigeru isn't getting away that easily.]

Edited (i'm terrible at spelling tonight) 2017-11-06 03:48 (UTC)

[ Oh! Shigeru might let out a small little gasp as he does that. He looks totally embarrassed as he watches people around them. Doing it in public is something he's not used to?! Dodger please.

He might steady himself by putting a hand on Dodger's shoulder, and typing with the other he'll respond. ]

W-Wait! Not...not in public! [ Shigeru's too pure for such displays so boldly done out in the open! He might fiddle with his phone again, face going beat red. ]

I don't mind...kissing you. But I want to do it somewhere else.

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[OPEN] Halloween Haunt at The Apothecary

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